Casket lid

ABSTRACT

A liner assembly for a casket lid of the type having a crown portion and laterally extending flanges extending from edges of the crown portion, the liner assembly being composed in part of a flat plate that lies inside of the casket lid in spaced-apart relation from the flanges, and a resilient liner bearing against the underside of the plate and having laterally extending edges engaging the flanges of the lid. The liner has a depth when in repose that is greater than the vertical distance between the lower surface of the plate and the horizontal flanges so that the liner is held in place.

United States Patent 1 Esterdahl 1 Sept. 17, 1974 CASKET LID [76] Inventor: Richard B. Esterdahl, P.O. Box

16BB, Prophetstown, 111. 61277 22 Filed: Jan. 31, 1973 21 App]. No.: 328,270

[52] US. Cl. 27/19 [51] Int. Cl A6lg 17/00 [58] Field of Search 27/19, 16, 14; 161/89 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,947,059 8/1960 Hillenbrand 27/19 3,162,923 12/1964 Kaeser 27/19 3,204,318 9/1965 Ross 27/19 3,487,513 l/l970 Herning 27/19 Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerG. F. Dunne [57] ABSTRACT A liner assembly for a casket lid of the type having a crown portion and laterally extending flanges extending from edges of the crown portion, the liner assembly being composed in part of a flat plate that lies inside of the casket lid in spaced-apart relation from the flanges, and a resilient liner bearing against the underside of the plate and having laterally extending edges engaging the flanges of the lid. The liner has a depth when in repose that is greater than the vertical distance between the lower surface of the plate and the horizontal flanges so that the liner is held in place.

12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures CASKET LID BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has heretofore been known to provide casket liners in which the liner is composed of a plastic side that is bonded to a fabric underside and both the plastic and cloth underside are molded to various shapes to conform to desired designs. Such a casket liner is shown in the present inventors U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,457. In such liners, there is provided edge recesses that engage and bear against the inner edges of the flanges on the casket lid. Also, the portion of the liner that is above and adjacent the edges is shaped so that there is an interlocking relation between the liner and the flanges.

One of the problems that exists in such a liner is that casket lids will have various sizes and shapes of flanges, and consequently each liner must be molded directly to fit a casket lid. This, therefore, often makes it difficult to utilize a single liner for different makes of lids as well as different shaped lids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the above in mind, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a casket liner assembly that may almost be universally used for all sizes of casket lids and for all shapes of casket lids.

Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a false top to the casket which bears against the upper section of a resilient liner. The liner has lower and outwardly extending edge sections which bear against the upper surface of the flanges that normally extend around the casket lid. The depth of the liner, that is, the vertical distance between the upper section of the liner and the outwardly extending edge sections is greater, when in repose, than the vertical distance between the false top of the casket and the flanges. The liner is composed of a combination of plastic backing and fabric on its underside which gives a resilience to the entire liner. Consequently, the liner may be deformed to be inserted in the casket lid and the fact that the upper portion of the liner bears resiliently against the false top of the casket lid will cause slight distortion in the liner which will cause the liner to be pressed or held in position in the lid.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide along one edge of the liner a tacky surface which will bear against the flange it lies against and will further hold the liner in position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the casket utilizing the liners and lid of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the liner utilized in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken through a portion of the liner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A-casket body 10 can be of any desired or usual construction. The casket includes a hinged top section or lid 12 at the head end of the casket and a hinged top section or lid 13 at the foot end of the casket. The lids 12, 13 are hinged along the rear longitudinal edges or sides to the rear of the casket body 10 by suitable hinging means such as is indicated at 14. Each of the lids 12, 13 are substantially identical in structure although slightly different in length and consequently only a description of the head end 12 will be given. For purposes of orientation, the rear side of the casket is that on which the hinges 14 are carried. Also, upper and lower is determined when the lid is in its closed position.

The lids l2, 13 are each composed of an elongated crown portion 15 that extends in a lengthwise direction and front and rear rolled edge portions 16, 17. Each lid 12, 13 has inwardly extending aligned horizontal flanges 18, 19 that are joined by a similar flange 20 extending across the head end of the casket. The body or base portion of the casket also has inwardly projecting flanges 21 extending around its upper edge that engages the flanges 18, 19 and 20. The flanges l8, 19, 20 have inner inclined edges or lips 22, 23, 24 respectively that are slightly inclined upwardly and inwardly from their respective flanges. At the foot end of the lid 12 there is provided an arcuate-shaped inwardly projecting flange 25 that lies under the crown 15 and the rolled edges 16, 17 and extends from their rear and front flanges l8, 19 respectively arcuately over the body or box 10.

As can best be seen from viewing FIG. 3, the lid 12 and the inclined rolled end 26 joins the crown 15 and the front and rear rolled edges 16, 17. It should here be understood that the exact shape of the casket lid is unimportant for purposes of the present invention. The rolled edges 15, 16 and 26 may be inclined flat panel portions or may have other curved shapes so long as they are joined with the crown 15.

A liner 30 is provided in the lid 12 and is detachably connected to the lid in a manner presently to be described. The liner 30 is composed of an elongated flat or planar section 31 that extends lengthwise of the casket lid and also centrally between its front and rear edges. Generally, the flat panel portion 31 lies beneath the crown 15 of the lid. A pair of lengthwise extending rolled portions 32, 33 extend downwardly from the outer edges of the central panel portion 31 to horizontally extending end sections or portions 34, 35. Similarly, a head rolled portion 36 extends downwardly from the front edge of the flat panel portion 31 to a horizontal edge section or portion 37 that flares outwardly from the portion 36. The liner 30 is composed of an upper layer 50 of a plastic material and a lower layer 51 of a fabric material, normally of a white or light-colored satin variety. The two layers are joined by a bonding agent 52 so that the two layers are unified p and may be molded to the correct shape. The plastic layer 50 may be of any of several commercial types but should be of a resilient material so that the liner30 may be distorted not only for purposes of inserting it in the lid 12 but also so that it will have resiliency for purposes of retaining it in the lid as will presently be explained.

The entire liner may be shaped in almost any desirable pattern such as would be desired in normal casket decorations. In the present manner of producing the pattern in the fabric, the mold and the means of preparing it is described in the aforesaid application, Ser. No. 35,107. Prior to the time the liner 30 is inserted in the casket lid, it has a papered cover over a glued surface on a paper 38 that extends around an arcuate-shaped edge section or lip 39 that generally conforms to the arcuate shape of the flange 25.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, directly above the central horizontal panel portion 31 and inside of the lid 12 is a false top or plate 40 that fits against and engages the underside of the crown 15 at its juncture with the rolled edges 16, 17. The plate 40 may be of a stiff cardboard or other material which will resist bending upwardly. When in repose, the liner has a greater vertical depth between the central panel portion 31 and the outer horizontal edge portions 34, 35 and 37 than the distance between the false top and the horizontal flanges on the lid.

When it is desired to insert the liner 30 in the lid 12, the lid is normally turned so that its concavity faces upwardly. The plate 40 is then laid across the crown l5 and serves as a false cap or top to the lid 12. The panel 31 is then inserted by distorting the rolled portions 32, 33 and 36 so as to cause the horizontal flanges 34, 35 and 37 to lie inwardly of the edges 22, 23 and 24. Since the liner when in repose has a greater height than the distance between the panel 40 and the edges 22, 23 and 24, there will be a slight distortion in the liner 30 so that the downward pressure of the plate 40 will hold the horizontal portions 34, 35 and 37 against the edges 22, 23 and 24. At the same time, the glued surface of the paper is covered until it rests properly against the lower side of the flange 25. The cover is then removed from the glued surface and a slight pressure causes the edge 39 to become glued to the flange 25. This ensures that there will be no movement of the panel 30. Also, the juncture between the edges 22, 23 and 24 with the respective panel portions 34, 35 and 36 will give a smooth appearing juncture.

I claim:

1. For use in a casket lid having a crown portion and flanges extending inwardly from the edges of the crown portion to thereby underlie the portion, a liner assembly composed of a flat plate supported inwardly of the crown and on the underside thereof, said flat plate having its edges engaging the crown so that the plate is disposed spacedly beneath the crown: and a resilient liner having a central upper section bearing against the underside of the plate and extending from the upper section downwardly and outwardly to laterally extending sections engaging the flanges, the depth of said liner being greater when in repose than the distance between the plate and at least part of said flanges whereby the resiliency in the liner will effect pressure between the central and laterally extending sections and the adjacent plate and flanges.

2. The liner assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which the upper section of liner is a flat portion in underlying engagement with the flat plate.

3. The liner assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which the flanges of the casket lid are all coplanar and the edge sections of the liner lie on top of the flanges.

4. The liner assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which the flanges along the front, rear and one end of the casket lid are horizontal and coplanar, and the flange at the other end is arch-shaped from front to rear, and the liner has its edge sections horizontal and arch-shaped to conform to the respective flanges of the lid.

5. The liner assembly as set forth in claim 4 in which the edge section that'is arch-shaped lies against and is glued to the complementary arch-shaped flange.

6. The liner assembly as set forth in claim 4 in which the horizontal edge section lies on top of the horizontal flanges, and the arch-shaped edge section lies against the underside of the arch-shaped flange.

7. The liner assembly as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by means fixing at least one portion of an edge section to an adjacent flange.

8. In a casket lid having an overhead crown portion extending from front to rear edges and from one edge at one end and having coplanar horizontal front, rear and end flanges extending inwardly from the edges, and an arch-like flange extending from front to rear inwardly from the opposite end of the lid, the improvement residing in a liner assembly for the lid composed of a flat horizontal plate means having front and rear edges engaging the undersurface of the crown in a vertical spaced relation from the horizontal flanges and so that the plate means is vertically spaced beneath the crown; a resilient liner in the casket lid having an upper central portion bearing against the underside of said plate means and extending downwardly therefrom to laterally extending edge sections bearing against the upper surfaces of the horizontal flanges and having an arch-like edge section lying against and conforming to the shape of the arch-like flange at the opposite end of the lid.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 in which the liner when in repose has a depth greater than the vertical distance between the horizontal flanges and the underside of the plate means.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 8 in which the archlike edge section is glued to the flange.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 8 in which the panel is composed of an upper plastic layer to give the liner resiliency and a lower fabric layer.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 8 in which the horizontal flanges of the casket lid have inclined edge sections extending inwardly and upwardly to horizontal edges and the underside of the liner edge sections bear against the edges. 

1. For use in a casket lid having a crown portion and flanges extending inwardly from the edges of the crown portion to thereby underlie the portion, a liner assembly composed of a flat plate supported inwardly of the crown and on the underside thereof, said flat plate having its edges engaging the crown so that the plate is disposed spacedly beneath the crown: and a resilient liner having a central upper section bearing against the underside of the plate and extending from the upper section downwardly and outwardly to laterally extending sections engaging the flanges, the depth of said liner being greater when in repose than the distance between the plate and at least part of said flanges whereby the resiliency in the liner will effect pressure between the central and laterally extending sections and the adjacent plate and flanges.
 2. The liner assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which the upper section of liner is a flat portion in underlying engagement with the flat plate.
 3. The liner assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which the flanges of the casket lid are all coplanar and the edge sections of the liner lie on top of the flanges.
 4. The liner assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which the flanges along the front, rear and one end of the casket lid are horizontal and coplanar, and the flange at the other end is arch-shaped from front to rear, and the liner has its edge sections horizontal and arch-shaped to conform to the respective flanges of the lid.
 5. The liner assembly as set forth in claim 4 in which the edge section that is arch-shaped lies against and is glued to the complementary arch-shaped flange.
 6. The liner assembly as set forth in claim 4 in which the horizontal edge section lies on top of the horizontal flanges, and the arch-shaped edge section lies against the underside of the arch-shaped flange.
 7. The liner assembly as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by means fixing at least one portion of an edge section to an adjacent flange.
 8. In a casket lid having an overhead crown portion extending from front to rear edges and from one edge at one end and having coplanar horizontal front, rear and end flanges extending inwardly from the edges, and an arch-like flange extending from front to rear inwardly from the opposite end of the lid, the improvement residing in a liner assembly for the lid composed of a flat horizoNtal plate means having front and rear edges engaging the undersurface of the crown in a vertical spaced relation from the horizontal flanges and so that the plate means is vertically spaced beneath the crown; a resilient liner in the casket lid having an upper central portion bearing against the underside of said plate means and extending downwardly therefrom to laterally extending edge sections bearing against the upper surfaces of the horizontal flanges and having an arch-like edge section lying against and conforming to the shape of the arch-like flange at the opposite end of the lid.
 9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 in which the liner when in repose has a depth greater than the vertical distance between the horizontal flanges and the underside of the plate means.
 10. The invention as set forth in claim 8 in which the archlike edge section is glued to the flange.
 11. The invention as set forth in claim 8 in which the panel is composed of an upper plastic layer to give the liner resiliency and a lower fabric layer.
 12. The invention as set forth in claim 8 in which the horizontal flanges of the casket lid have inclined edge sections extending inwardly and upwardly to horizontal edges and the underside of the liner edge sections bear against the edges. 